Minor Losses (Local)

Separ ated flow

Vena contracta

Flow separation
( b) at cor ner
Outlet
Q

Pipe

Separated
flow

Pump
Elbow
Tee Valve

Pipe entrance or exit

Sudden expansion or contraction
Inlet Bends, elbows, tees, and other fittings
Valves, open or partially closed
Gradual expansions or contractions
 Total Head Loss

total loss = H1 H2 h = hf + hm

friction loss: hf = f * (L/D) * (V2/2g)

minor loss: hm = KL (V2/2g)

KL is the loss coefficient

For each pipe segment (i.e. reaches along which

pipe diameter remains constant) there may be
several minor losses.
Flow in an elbow.
Expanding Flows
Experiments show that the pressure
At 3-3 is equal to P1.

Ignoring the friction force

Q = V1A1 = V2 A 2
 Expanding flow
Continuity eq.: Q = V1A1 = V2 A 2

(p1 p2 )A 2 = Q( V2 V1)
Momentum eq. In x-direction: (p1 p2 ) 1 2
= ( V2 V1V2 )
g
Energy eq.: p1 V1
2
p2 V2
2
z1 + + = z2 + + + hm
2g 2g
2 2
p p V V2
hm = 1 2 + 1
2g
2
( V2 V1)2 VA VD
hm = , V2 = 1 1 = 1 21
2g A2 D2
2
D 2 V 2 V1
2
hm = 1
1 1
, hm = K m
D2 2g 2g
Deterination of Local
Loss (hm):

2
V
hm = K m
2g
 Friction loss for non-circular conduits
Circular Non-circular
A A
Rh = Rh =
P P

Dh = D Dh = 4Rh
2 L V2
LV hf = f
hf = f Dh 2g
D 2g
Dh V
DV Re =
Re =


f = f Re ,

f = f Re , Dh
D

Friction loss for non-circular conduits

1 for P2 = P1 2

A 2 < A1

Dh < D
V2 > V1

> and R e 2 R e1 f2 > f1
Dh D

hf2 > hf1

Hydraulic
Diameter
 Example
Water flows from the basement to the second floor through the 2 cm
diameter copper pipe (a drawn tubing) at a rate of Q = 0.8 lt/s and
exits through a faucet of diameter 1.3 cm as shown in figure.
Determine the pressure at point 1 if :
a) viscous effects are neglected,
b) the only losses included are major losses
c) all losses are included
Q = 0.8 lt/s
Pipe diameter = 2cm
Viscosity = 1.13 * 10-6 m2/sn
Pressure at point 1?????

Q 0 .0008
V = = = 2 .546 m / s
A 3 .1416 *10 4

VD 2 .546 * 0 .02
Re = = 6
= 45062 = 4 .5 * 10 4 flow is turbulent
1 .13 *10

a) Energy equation between (1) and (9)

H1 = H 9
V12 P1 V 92 P9 Q
+ + z1 = + + z9 V1 = V = 2 .546 m / s , V9 = = 6 .027 m / s
2g 2g A9

V 92 V12
P1 = + z9
2g

6 .027 2 2 .546 2
P1 = 9810 + 8 .12 = 94578 .5 Pa = 94 .6 kPa
2 * 9 .81
P1
= 9 .64 m Compare with z = 8 .12 m



V92 V12 L V2
b) H 1 h f = H 9 P1 = + z9 + f
2 g D 2g
drawn tubing, = 0.00016 cm /D =8.10-5 , Re =45062

f = 0.0215
Ltotal = 4.6 + 3*6 = 22.6 m

6.027 2 2.546 2 22.6 2.546 2

P1 = 9810 + 8.12 + 0.0215 *
2 * 9.81 0.02 2 * 9.81
P1
P1 = 173320Pa = 173.3 kPa = 17.67 m

 ........................

Moody diagram. (From L.F. Moody, Trans. ASME, Vol.66,1944.) (Note: If e/D = 0.01
and Re = 104, the dot locates = 0.043.)
 8 V2
c) H1 h L K i = H9
2 2g
V92 V12 LV
2
V2
P1 = + z9 + f + Ki
2g D 2g 2g

K i = 1.5 + 1.5 + 0.4 + 0.4 + 1.5 + 10 + 2 = 17.3

6.027 2 2.546 2 22.6 2.546 2 2.546 2
P1 = 9810 + 8.12 + 0.0215 + 17.3
2 * 9.81 0.02 2 * 9.81 2 * 9.81
P1
P1 = 229390.3Pa = 229.4 kPa = 23.38 m

This pressure drop (229.4 kPa) calculated by
including all losses should be the most realistic
answer of the three cases considered.
Comparison:
hl=0 hl=hf hl=hf+hm
P1 (kPa) 94.6 173.3 229.4
P1/ (m) 9.64 17.67 23.38
 Piping Networks
Two general types of networks
Pipes in series
Volume flow rate is constant
Head loss is the summation of components

Pipes in parallel
Volume flow rate is the sum of the components
Pressure loss across all branches is the same
Pipes in Series

QA = QB
 Pipes in Series
For pipes connected in series:
Q=constant QA=Q1=Q2= ----- =Qn=QB

But the head loss is additive:

hl=hfi+ hmi, i=1,2,....,n

Where hfi is the frictional loss in i-th pipe,
and hmi is the local loss in i-th pipe.
 Example
Given a three-pipe series system as shown below. The total
pressure drop is pA-pB = 150 kPa, and the elevation drop is zA-zB = 5
m. The pipe data are
pipe L (m) D (cm) (mm)
1 100 8 0.24
2 150 6 0.12
3 80 4 0.20

The fluid is water (= 1000 kg/m3 , = 1.02x10-6 m2/s). Calculate the

flow rate Q (m3/hr). Neglect minor losses.
H A = HB + h f + h m

2 2
V1 V3
2
2g 2
2g 2 2 2
VA PA VB PB L 1 V1 L 2 V2 L 3 V3
+ + zA = + + z B + f1 + f2 + f3
2g 2g D1 2g D 2 2g D 3 2g

p A pB L1 V12 L 2 V2
2
L3 V3 2
+ (z A z B ) = f1 1 + f2 + f3 + 1
D1 2g D 2 2g D 3 2g
 1 2 3

p A pB L1 V1
2
L 2 V2
2
L3 V3 2
+ (z A z B ) = f1 1 + f2 + f3 + 1
D 1 2g D 2 2 g D 3 2g

from continuity: V1 A 1 = V2 A 2 = V3 A 3

2 2
8 8
A 1 = A 2 = A 3 and A 1 = 1.78 A 2 = 4 A 3
6 4

V2 = 1.78 V1 and V3 = 4 V1

p A pB L1 V12 L2 V1
2

+ (z A zB ) = f1 + (1.78 ) f2
2
1
D1 2g D 2 2g
L3 V12
+ (4 ) f3
2
+ 1
D3 2g
2
V
20.3 = (1250 f1 + 7920f 2 + 32000f 3 + 15 ) 1
2g
V2 = 1.78 V1 V3 = 4.0 V1

20.3 = (1250 f1 + 7920 f2 + 32000 f3 + 15) V12 / 2g

Velocities and f not known. Thus, assume rough flow
Pipe D /D fi V
(mm) (cm) m/sec
1 0.24 8 0.003 0.026 0.579
2 0.12 6 0.002 0.023 1.030
3 0.20 4 0.005 0.030 2.314

Pipe D /D fi V Re f1
(mm) (cm) m/sec
1 0.24 8 0.003 0.026 0.579 45381 0.029
2 0.12 6 0.002 0.023 1.030 60584 0.027
3 0.20 4 0.005 0.030 2.314 90762 0.031
 V2 = 1.78 V1 V3 = 4.0 V1

20.3 = (1250 f1 + 7920 f2 + 32000 f3 + 15) V12 / 2g

Pipe D /D fi V Re f1
(mm) (cm) m/sec
1 0.24 8 0.003 0.029 0.563 44147 0.029
2 0.12 6 0.002 0.027 1.002 58937 0.027
3 0.20 4 0.005 0.031 2.252 88295 0.031

Close enough. Thus,

V1 = 0.563 m/sec or Q= 0.0028 m3 /sec

 Equivalent Pipe Concept
For pipes in series:
Consider two pipes connected in series:

B, LA,DB,B
A, LA,DA,A
1 2
 We want to replace these two pipes with an
equivalent pipe C:

C, Leq,Deq, eq
1 2

The head loss between sections (1) and (2) is:

hf12= hfA + hfB = hfC (1)
and
QA = QB =QC (2)
 The Darcy-Weissbach Equation:
L V2 4Q
hf = f and inserting V = 2 :
D 2g D
L Q2
h f = 8f 5
D g 2

Therefore Eq.(1) can be written as:

L A Q 2A L B Q 2B L C Q C2
8f A 5 2 + 8f B 5 2 = 8f C or
D A g D B g D 5C g 2
LA LB LC L eq
f A 5 + f B 5 = f C 5 = f eq 5
DA DB DC D eq
 If fA=fB=fC, then
L eq LA LB
= 5 + 5
D 5eq DA DB

Generalizing for n pipes connected in series

n
L eq Li
= 5
D 5eq 1 Di

We choose either Deq, or Leq, then compute the

other from the equation.
 Example
Given a three-pipe series system as shown below. The total
pressure drop is pA-pB = 150 kPa, and the elevation drop is zA-zB = 5
m. The pipe data are
pipe L (m) D (cm) (mm)
1 100 8 0.24
2 150 6 0.12
3 80 4 0.20

The fluid is water (= 1000 kg/m3 , = 1.02x10-6 m2/s). Calculate the

flow rate Q (m3/hr). Neglect minor losses.
 L eq n
Li choose either Deq, or Leq, then compute
= 5 the other from the equation
D 5eq 1 Di
Pipe D /D L
(mm) (cm) (m)
1 0.24 8 0.003 100
2 0.12 6 0.002 150
3 0.20 4 0.005 80

Lets use Leq = 330m

330 / D5 = (100/0.085) + (150/0.065) + (80/0.045) = 1*109
Solving for Deq= 0.0505 m
Assume = 0.2mm and hydraulically rough flow, /D = 0.004
L V2
initial f = 0.028 using 20.3 = hf = f =====
V = 1.475m/s Re = 75997
D 2g
Recalculating f = 0.03 V = 1.425 m/sec

Discharge Q = 0.002855 m3 / sec

 L eq n
Li choose either Deq, or Leq, then compute
= 5 the other from the equation
D 5eq 1 Di
Pipe D /D L
(mm) (cm) (m)
1 0.24 8 0.003 100
2 0.12 6 0.002 150
3 0.20 4 0.005 80

Lets use Deq = 0.06m

L / (0.06)5 = (100/0.085) + (150/0.065) + (80/0.045) = 1* 109
Solving for Leq= 778 m
Assume = 0.2mm and hydraulically rough flow, /D = 0.0033
L V2
initial f = 0.027 using 20.3 = hf = f ====
V = 1.067 m/s Re = 65275
D 2g
Recalculating f = 0.03 V = 1.012 m/sec

Discharge Q = 0.00286 m3 / sec

 If desired minor losses may be expressed
in terms of equivalent lengths and added to
the actual length of pipe as:

V2 L eq V 2 D
hm = Km =f Hence L eq = K m
2g D 2g f

Where
Km=local loss coefficient, and
f=fricton factor of the pipe
Then the pipe length should be taken as:
L=Lac+Leq
Pipes in Paralel
 In order to increase the capacity of a pipeline
system, pipes might be connected in parallel.
For pipes connected in parallel:

The discharges are additive:

QA = QB = Qi, i=1,2,....,n

The Total head at junctions must have single

value. Therefore the head loss in each
branch must be the same:

hf1=hf2=hf3 = ----- =hfn

 Example

Assume that the same three pipes of previous example are now in
parallel with the same total loss of 20.3 m. Compute the total rate
Q(m3/hr), neglecting the minor losses.

pipe L (m) D (cm) (mm)

1 100 8 0.24
2 150 6 0.12
3 80 4 0.20
 Solution-I:
Energy equation b/w A and B:

H A = H B + hL = H B + hf + hm
no matter which route is followed b/w A and B

L 1 V12 L 2 V22 L 3 V32

HA HB = 20.3 = f1 = f2 = f3
D1 2g D 2 2g D 3 2g
 Substituting the known Ls and Ds ,

V12 V22 V32

20.3 = 1250 f1 =2500 f2 =2000 f 3
2g 2g 2g

Since Vis and fis are not known, assume hydraulically rough regime

Pipe /D F0 V Re f1 VD
1 0.003 0.0262 3.49 273726 0.268
Re =

2 0.002 0.0234 2.61 153529 0.247

3 0.005 0.0304 2.56 100392 0.315

 Tabular presentation
Pipe /D f1 V Re f2
1 0.003 0.268 3.46 271373 0.268
2 0.002 0.247 2.55 150000 0.247
3 0.005 0.315 2.52 98823 0.315 fs have converged

Pipe V(m/s) Q(m3/s) Q(m3/hr)

1 3.46 0.0174 62.6

2 2.55 0.0072 26.0 Q= 100 m3/hr
3 2.52 0.0032 11.4

TOTAL 100
 Equivalent pipe concept for parallel pipes

Consider two pipes, A and B, connected in

parallel:

A, LA,DA,A

QA Leq, Deq
Q1 Q2
1 2
QB 2
1
B, LB,DB,B

For the equivalent pipe with length, Leq, and

diameter, Deq:
 hf1-2= hfA = hfB and Q1=QA+QB=Q2
From the Darcy-Weissbach equation:

h f g 2 D 5
Q=
8fL

Therefore:
h fA g 2 D 5A h fB g 2 D 5B
QA = and QB = and hence
8f A L A 8f B L B

h fC g 2 D 5C h fA g 2 D 5A h fB g 2 D 5B
= +
8f C L C 8f A L A 8f B L B
 Simplifying:
D 5C D 5A D 5B
= +
fCLC fALA f BLB

Furthermore if fC=fA=fB, then

D 5C D 5A D 5B
= +
LC LA LB

Generalizing for n pipes connected in

parallel: 5
(1)
n 5
D eq D
= i Q
(i)
Q
L eq 1 Li
(n)